Didn’t force Ananya to get into films: Chunky
As sparks fly over the nepotism debate, actor Chunky Panday says he is rather surprised to hear words like insiders and outsiders, which he never heard during his four-decade long career.
“I don’t know how these terms, ‘insider’ and ‘outsider’ have come. The moment you sign a film, you become an insider. It’s your first assignment that makes you an insider. The equation of the industry has not changed. It’s is an equal playing field. You have to have a huge amount of luck and things will fall in place. But of course there will be ups and downs,” he shares.
And whenever the nepotism debate reignites, his daughter Ananya Panday has, more often than not, faced the ire of trolls on social media.
“If Ananya chose to get into films, it is her prerogative, I’ve not forced her. Kids today decide what they want to do. I hope and pray they succeed,” says the 57-year-old.
He admits that as a parent, it does bother him when his daughter is attacked. “When I came into the industry, it was said someone recommended me. It was a huge thing back then. But you have to live with it. Keep proving yourself and maintain the success. Not everyone can handle that… I couldn’t,” he says.
However, Chunky, who will soon make his digital debut, says actors now have it easier. “In our time we had to go the long way — shoot portfolios, show them to directors and producers. Now, with social media you can be famous and are cast in films. This is the golden era for anyone trying to get into this business,” he says.